Image: Josef Obexer
By Marie-Antoinette Issa
If you’ve ever stood at the edge of Bondi Beach, squinting into the sun and letting the salty scent in the air mix with the sound of crashing waves, you’ll know the draw of Icebergs Dining Room and Bar. Now, for the first time, you don’t have to trek down to the beach to get that dose of coastal cool – it’s right at Sydney Airport’s Qantas Domestic Terminal.Walking into the new space, travellers will be immediately transported to the familiar sense of Bondi calm …. only with the hum of baggage carousels in the background instead of crashing waves. "We aim to bring Qantas customers the atmosphere and warmth that Icebergs Dining Room and Bar has been delivering for the past 24 years,” says CEO Tasso Della Noce. Translation? You’ll still get the hand-glazed tiles, the wave-inspired seating and all the vibes of your favourite ocean-side lunch, but with your carry-on in tow. For travellers in a hurry, Icebergs Caffe To Go serves up Vittoria Coffee so good it might make you forget you’re standing in an airport. Plus, fresh juices and pastries that put most hotel breakfasts to shame – coconut croissants, finger buns and a Tokyo 7/11 soft-boiled egg sandwich that’s absurdly, wonderfully indulgent.
If you’ve got a minute to breathe (or a couple of hours before your flight), the Icebergs Bar and Kitchen is where things get deliciously messy. QR codes? Check. Signature cocktails? Check. Iceburger? Oh yes. Spaghetti vongole with Goolwa pipis and Pilu bottarga? Double check. It’s casual, it’s flexible and it’s perfect whether you’re solo, with colleagues, or corralling a family before takeoff. Somehow, it’s both airport-efficient and Bondi-chic – a rare trick.
Image: Josef Obexer
For those willing to treat themselves like they’re at the actual Bondi venue, the full-service menu is a cheeky nod to the "long lunch” Bondi locals adore. Every dish whispers the story of sun, sand and surf – only now you might be smelling jet fuel in the background. Architect Carl Pickering explains the concept: "The brief was to create a moment of pause within movement. Rather than resist the transience of the airport, we embraced it.” Even the drinks have their own kind of cheeky personality. Matty Opai’s cocktails lean into that Euro-beachside energy – including breakfast cocktails made with ruby-red grapefruit Campari, for those ungodly early departures – all paired with a wine list that’s smart, breezy and a little bit indulgent.Either way, Icebergs at Sydney Airport has taken one of Sydney’s most iconic dining rooms and somehow made it feel perfectly at home amid the chaos of departure lounges.
Opening hours are generous (Mon-Fri 6am-9pm, Sat-Sun 7am-8pm), so whether you’re an early bird or running to catch your flight, there’s a table waiting. And the best part is that whether you grab a coffee and run to your gate, or pour yourself a Negroni, it’s easy to pretend you’re on the Bondi terrace instead of Terminal 3.
